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Even the Duchess of Cambridge , has asked about taking part in her local branch in Norfolk. Kate would join 215,000 other members, spread across around 6,300 branches.

Winning formula: New members are likely to be career women and modern young mums like these Seven Hills WI members trying out cheerleading

Kirsty Bowen, president of Sheffield’s Seven Hills WI, had a 200-strong waiting list last year.

She told the Sunday People: “We encouraged them to join other groups or set up their own. Three have been set up in Sheffield since January.”

Kirsty is 28, with five years of WI membership. Her experiences have included being a TV judge on the Great British Menu, learning to dance the Charleston and attending a talk on female sexual pleasure.

Shake it up: Gin tasting, cocktail making like these Seven Hills WI members, using power tools and salsa dancing are also among activities

Explaining the changes in the ­movement, she said: “People are still surprised by what WI is all about. They imagine I’m in a village hall somewhere, me and some older ladies.”

Married Kirsty joined straight from Sheffield University, where she still works. She said: “Lots of friends left the city and I wanted to make new ones here. There was a buzz when I arrived at Seven Hills.

“I’d ­assumed there would be more older ladies, I’d heard of Calendar Girls, after all. But I saw these girls the same age as me making cocktails and Bollywood dancing and I wanted to get involved.”

Lighter life: WI ladies wait for their turn to take to the skies in a glider in July 1983 (Image: Mirrorpix)

Now branch ­president, she said: “It does take up quite a lot of my time. My ­husband is happy to put up with it, though, and he encouraged me.” As well as the 11 meetings a year, there are linked ­activities such as book clubs and slimming.

Kirsty said: “You can be involved in as little or as much as you want.”

Sew good: Katie from the WI in Ancoats Manchester with members' bunting

One unconventional group is Gothic Valley WI – a goth-friendly WI in North London where they enjoy bat walks as well as pastimes such as baking.

One of the organisation’s most avid supporters is Joanne Croxford, 34, who is a member of seven WIs – from Tea & Tarts in Huddersfield to a group called Rising Roses that meets in an NHS mental health trust.

She said: “I’m a chronic WI-er. I joined three years ago as a recovering drug addict. I’d never felt connected to anyone but it sparked from there and it’s been amazing.”

Famous friends: The Countess of Wessex and the Princess Royal look on as Queen Elizabeth II cuts a Women's Institute Celebrating 100 Years cake (Image: PA)

NHS worker Joanne, from Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, credits the group with changing her life.

She is now happy take to part in axe-throwing or a confidence-boosting burlesque session.

She said: “It’s about ladies coming together on an equal footing.

Preserved memories: Mrs Evelyn Bowering serving a customer with a jar of homemade jam from the stall at the Hatfield and District WI in June 1963 (Image: Topham Picturepoint)

“I know an 18-year-old – and one branch has a member who is 92. Age isn’t asked on the application form, so it’s very inclusive.”

The WI’s history of campaigning is what drew Joanne in. She recalled: “I was doing some reading when I came across the WI and its links to women’s suffrage.

“In the 1920s they were campaigning for the safety of sex workers. They also started the Keep Britain Tidy campaign.”

Spinning tops: The East Kent Federation of WI gave a very fine demonstration of embroidery needlework (Image: TopFoto)

The WI started in Canada in 1897.

Its first British branch opened in 1915 to encourage women to get involved in growing and preserving food to help win the First World War.

“The WI is about getting on with all women, ­regardless of age.” At 39, Stephanie Dawson is one of the oldest at her Buns & Roses WI group in Leeds, who meet in a cocktail bar in a hotel in the city centre.

She said: “I absolutely love it. I’ve done everything from gin tasting to making fascinators. We’re going to learn to play the ukulele soon. When else would I get to do these things?

“I, a hundred per cent, think I’ll be a ­member until I’m an old lady.